An assessment of hydrogeochemical computer codes applied toward modeling and predicting post-mining pit water geochemistry
- Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States). Hydrology Program
- Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV (United States). Dept. of Environmental Resource Sciences
Geochemists for the mining industry utilize a variety of computer codes to model and predict post-mining pit water chemogenesis. This study surveys several of the PC-supported hydrogeochemical codes, applies them to specific open pit mine scenarios, and evaluates their suitability to predicting post-mining pit and groundwater hydro-geochemistry. The prediction of pit water geochemistry is important because of the potential adverse effects of mine drainage, which include acidity, trace metal contamination, pit water stratification, and sludge accumulation. The WATEQ codes of the USGS can calculate speciation and saturation states of a pit water or groundwater sample, but are not designed to model forward rock/water reactions. NETPATH can calculate the chemical mass transfer (inverse modeling) that has occurred during rock/water interaction, but again is not designed to model forward pit water chemogenesis. Several mining industry modelers use EPA's MINTEQA2 code, which has shown to be very flexible with its large database and ability to model adsorption. Reaction path codes, like PHREEQE and EQ3/6, can model reactions on an incremental basis as the pit fills over time, but also may require much user manipulation. New coupled codes like PHREEQM and HYDROGEOCHEM can simulate movement and reaction of groundwater through the aquifer as it approaches and inundates the pit. One aspect of post-mining hydrogeochemical modeling that has received little attention is the effect groundwater will have down gradient after it flows from the pit into the aquifer.
- OSTI ID:
- 5330096
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9305259--
- Journal Information:
- Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Vol. 25:5; ISSN GAAPBC; ISSN 0016-7592
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000 -- Geosciences
CALCULATION METHODS
CHEMISTRY
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FORECASTING
GEOCHEMISTRY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINING
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SIMULATION
SURFACE MINING
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION